in your opinion what is the best backing glue for snake skin

[southernwoody]

Just as the title says? What do you prefer for putting those good looking snake skins on your bows?

[karrow]

i use tite bond 3. its just what i haev around

any of the tite bond glues will work. some like to use regular old elmers like kids use in school.

[Pat B]

For wood bows hide glue is the best but most folks use carpenters glue like Titebond or Elmer's.

[Bowjunkie]

Yeah, Elmer's Carpenter glue... not the white school glue.

[Eric Krewson]

Titebond 2 is very yellow and will show through your skins altering their color.

Here is an example of Titebond 2 showing through the skin, I grabbed the wrong bottle of glue when I put the skins on.



I use Elmer's stainable wood glue for skins on wood bows, neutral color, won't show through a skin.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I've never used anything except Titebond 3.

[Pat B]

White school glue will also work!

[southernwoody]

Awesome info! Also how do you sign the bow? What pen to use or paint and then how do you lacquer over it so it doesn't smear?

[Pat B]

I use India ink and a nib or quill pen.

[Eric Krewson]

I use archival calligraphy ink and a cheap calligraphy pen. I like white ink on osage because the darker the osage gets, the more the lettering stands out.

 

Here is my lifetime supply of ink and my pen. Hard to read but the ink is Speedball Super Pigmented acrylic.

 

I have found the points wear out pretty quickly. To make neat lettering the point has to be replaced as soon as it starts chattering across the wood surface. If you go this route, buy the finest tip they sell at the craft store. I get my stuff at Hobby Lobby.

[southernwoody]

Do you put the polyurethane on the bow then ink and then more polyurethane or just no over coat to protect the ink?

[David Flanrey]

I use TB3 and India Ink to sign the bows.  

[southernwoody]

Do you put a coat of polyurethane over the signature?

[David Flanrey]

On self bows I use Tru Oil.  On glass bows I sing with India ink and cover with Thundbird epoxy.  Polyurethane will work also.

[southernwoody]

Great info folks thanks a ton!